Festa de Yemanjá

Location: Salvador

The Festa de Yemanja (Festival of Yemanjá) happens on February 2nd every year. The ceremony begins at dawn, with devotees of Candomblé, Umbanda and Catholicism coming to the shores of Rio Vermelho to put their offerings in baskets that will be taken to the high seas. The festivities continue with music, parades and demonstrations of popular culture such as capoeira and samba, until late afternoon, when boats sail into the ocean to deliver the gifts collected throughout the day. The Festival of Yemanja is one of the major public religious manifestations of the city, attracting people of all faiths who come to pay their respects to the Queen of the Ocean.